The Supreme Court adjourned to December 3 the hearing of the Maharashtra government’s petition against a Bombay High Court order denying the police a 90-day extension to complete their investigation and file a charge sheet against lawyer Surendra Gadling and others accused of Maoist links in the aftermath of the Bhima-Koregaon violence.
On October 29, a Bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S.K. Kaul and K.M. Joseph stayed the High Court’s order. A chargesheet had been filed by the police in a Pune special court against Mr. Gadling and four other co-accused on November 15.
The High Court passed its order on October 24, opening a window for Mr. Gadling, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen and activists Sudhir Dhawale, Mahesh Raut and Rona Wilson to seek default bail. They were arrested on June 6 by the Pune police, and a case was registered against them under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and the Indian Penal Code.
On September 2, the trial court allowed an extension of 90 days. Thereafter, Mr. Gadling and the others moved the High Court, which set aside the trial court’s order. However, the High Court stayed its order till November 1 to give the State time to appeal in the Supreme Court.
